Fallout (Crank 3)

Breathe. On my own …

SUDDEN FOCUS

Buzz. Silence. Buzz. Silence.

What? Doorbell. My head clears

with a deep breath. Doorbell?

Bryce. “Just a second,” I call

loudly. Don’t leave! I’m here.

And now he is here with me.

I go to the door, trying not to

look as pasty faced as I feel.

An exercise in futility.

Are you okay? are the first

words out of Bryce’s mouth.

You don’t look so good.

“I’m fine now you’re here.” I pull

him over the threshold, close

the door quickly, so the neighbors

don’t notice I have a visitor. I want

it to be our luscious little secret.

Grandfather and Aunt Cora

are in Austin, scouting Baptist

churches that might be available

for an hour or so on short notice.

With dozens in the phone book,

odds are they’ll be gone all day.

Hours, anyway, providing the perfect

opportunity to spend some quality

one-on-one time with Bryce.

We’ve never been quite so alone

together. His arms surround me,